PTZ Camera Control with iPad App

The below video demonstrates how to control an analog / CCTV PTZ camera that is connected to an iDVR from iPad using the native MobileCMS app. Note: although a WIR12X model PTZ camera is used in this video, any standard analog PTZ camera will work with this DVR and app. As long as the PTZ camera uses analog BNC video output and supports Pelco-P or Pelco-D PTZ protocol using RS-485, you can use the iDVR and iPad app features in this demo.

Here is how it works

A PTZ-WIR12X PTZ camera is connected to an iDVR-E4 CCTV DVR. A coax cable is used to run the video from the camera to the DVR. 18/2 conductor cable is used to wire the RS-485 port of the camera to the DVR (CAT-5 cable can also be used). The RS-485 cable is used to communicate the PTZ commands from the DVR to the camera.

The iDVR is network / Internet ready which means that it has a built in Ethernet port. The DVR is connected to a network router, and the router is connected to a cable modem (for Internet access). The iPad app supports PTZ commands and communicates directly with the DVR from over the Internet. There are no service fees or monthly fees to enable this access. You can find instructions here on
how to setup PTZ camera controls for iDVR surveillance DVRs. You can find the CCTV iPad app setup instructions.

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Video Transcript

The mobile CMS iPad app for the iDVR allows users to control PTZ cameras remotely over the internet and on their local area network using the iPad.

In this demonstration, CCTV camera pros connected the monitor output of an iDVR-E4 to the 42-inch LCD TV seen here. On our iPad, I will launch the mobile CMS iPad app and then select the DVR that I want to connect to.

The iPad app works in portrait and landscape modes.

Camera 1 is our PTZ-WIR-12X outdoor pan, tilt, zoom camera. I select this camera full-screen and tap on the PTZ control icon on the app so that I can control the pan, tilt, and zoom operations.

I'm going to place the iPad on the monitor stand and start moving the camera around using the iPad controls.

This particular PTZ camera supports 12 times optical resolution. The dumpster that I am zooming in on is 100 feet away from where the camera is mounted.

I move the camera to the left so that we can zoom in on the delivery truck in the distance. This delivery truck is located 190 feet away from the camera.

As you can see, the 12 times optical zoom of the PTZ camera is able to zoom in on large objects up to 200 feet away quite well.

In addition to supporting PTZ controls, the iPAD app can also support searching for and playing back recorded video surveillance footage. This feature will be demonstrated in a video in the future.

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Request a Demo

If you do not currently have an iDVR-PRO and would like to log in to the demo unit at our office, please request a demo login below. You will be able to login from iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile devices. You can also login from Macintosh and Windows computers. Please
click here to request a demo login.

Complete CCTV Systems

Did you know? CCTV Camera Pros can provide a complete surveillance system quote that includes a hybrid iDVR-E surveillance DVR, any number of cameras SD and
HD CCTV cameras you need plus cables, connectors, power supplies, and monitors? As you have probably already seen on our website, we have 2, 4, 8, and 16 camera surveillance systems in pre-made packages. However, it is not possible for us to package up every combination and quantity of all the different camera models that we carry. So, we can also provide you with a custom quote with as many cameras as you need and a mix of any combination of camera model(s) based on your project requirements.

Video Author & Producer

This video was created by and this page is maintained by
Mike Haldas, co-founder and managing partner of CCTV Camera Pros. If you have questions about setting up alarm inputs and outputs, please email me at mike@cctvcamerapros.net.

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